Doubt and Faith
John 20:24-29
Scott McKinney, April 18th, 2021
“He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.” —Isaiah 61:1b-3a
“Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” —John 20:24-25
Doubt can be the
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” —John 3:3
Jesus doesn’t
“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” —Matthew 11:6
Thomas was
“Let us also go, that we may die with him.” —John 11:16
Thomas is not afraid of what
“Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” —John 14:5
Why does Thomas have his doubts?
“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” —John 20:26-27
“Thomas said to him, “My Lord and My God.” —John 20:28
“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” —John 20:29
The strongest evidence for the resurrection is the
Once the witnesses see the risen Jesus, they are
Our struggles with doubt have a way of creating a faith
Discussion Questions
This question is based on Luke 4:16-23 where Jesus preaches in his hometown synagogue.
1) If we could go and visit your hometown and meet people that remember you, what would they say about you?
Read Luke 24:37-44
2) What steps does Jesus take in this passage to convince the disciples that it is really him?
Read 1 John 3:2 (This passage says that one day we will have the same kind of body that Jesus had when he was resurrected.)
3) What differences are there between Jesus’ resurrection body and our bodies?
4) What similarities?
5) What is it about a resurrection body that you look forward to the most?
Read John 20:24-25
6) Think about a time when you had a difficult time believing. Could you share the doubts that you had and has there been a resolution to your doubts?
7) Have you ever been around people that made you feel that if you doubt, that there was something wrong with you?
Read John 20:26-28
8) What was it about seeing the resurrected Jesus that caused Thomas to say to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”?
Read John 20:29
9) It was said in the message on Sunday that the strongest evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is the testimony of the witnesses. The primary witnesses for the resurrection were the apostles. What makes their testimony so powerful?
10) What difference does believing that Jesus rose from the dead make in your life?
11) What would be different about you if you didn’t believe in the resurrection?